IT'SUGAR
{{Short description|American candy store chain}}
{{Cleanup press release|1=article|date=May 2024}}
IT’SUGAR (pronounced "it's sugar") is an American candy store chain. They have over 100 locations in the United States and Canada, mostly located in shopping malls and tourist areas.{{Infobox company
| type = Privately held company
| industry = Confectionary
| founded = 2006
| founder = Jeff Rubin
| hq_location = Fort Lauderdale, Florida
| num_locations = 116
| area_served = United States of America, Canada
| parent = BBX Capital Corporation
| website = https://itsugar.com/
}}
History
Jeff Rubin worked on Wall Street before returning home to the Midwest to help his family business in 1994.{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Marianne |title=Q&A with It’Sugar’s Jeff Rubin: The King of Sweets |url=https://chainstoreage.com/news/qa-itsugars-jeff-rubin-king-sweets |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Chain Store Age |language=en}}
Rubin founded his store and opened its first location in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 2005. His inspiration came from FAO Schwarz and Toys R Us stores. He included novelty items when the stores and brand expanded across the country. They adopted the "Absolutely No Nutritional Value" slogan and included large items in stock.
In 2017 BBX Capital bought his brand for $57 million.{{Cite web |title=IT'SUGAR CEO Jeff Rubin to transition from CEO to chairman {{!}} Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery |url=https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/109350-itsugar-ceo-jeff-rubin-to-transition-from-ceo-to-chairman |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.snackandbakery.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=confectionerynews.com |date=2017-06-21 |title=BBX Capital acquires specialty candy retailer It’s Sugar for $57m |url=https://www.confectionerynews.com/Article/2017/06/22/BBX-Capital-acquires-specialty-candy-retailer-It-s-Sugar-for-57m |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=confectionerynews.com |language=en-GB}}
In 2019, IT'SUGAR opened its largest store at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The store is three stories tall and has more than 10,000 types of candy, as well as having a candy replica of the Statue of Liberty made from 1.5 million jellybeans.{{Cite web |last=NJ.com |first=Brianna Kudisch {{!}} NJ Advance Media for |date=2019-12-14 |title=IT’SUGAR officially opens at American Dream, and it’s massively sweet |url=https://www.nj.com/bergen/2019/12/itsugar-officially-opens-at-american-dream-and-its-massively-sweet.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=nj |language=en}}
In 2020, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to multiple factors including lack of ingredients from its providers and brands featured, low sales, and the COVID-19 pandemic but they shortly emerged.{{Cite web |last=Bloomberg News |first= |date=2020-09-23 |title=Candy Seller It’Sugar Files Bankruptcy After Pandemic Sales Drop – BNN Bloomberg |url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/candy-seller-it-sugar-files-bankruptcy-after-pandemic-sales-drop-1.1498381 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=BNN}}
In 2022, another location was opened in Chicago on Magnificent Mile which is 2,000 square feet.{{Cite web |last=Barack |first=Meredith |date=2022-04-07 |title=Sweet treats at the new IT'SUGAR store on the Mag Mile – CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/sweet-treats-at-the-new-itsugar-store-on-the-mag-mile/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=IT’SUGAR opens candy department store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile {{!}} Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery |url=https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/101768-itsugar-opens-candy-department-store-on-chicagos-magnificent-mile |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.snackandbakery.com |language=en}} Also, a 2-story, 20,335 square foot building in Times Square, the second largest in the United States, opened in August 2022.{{Cite web |last=Roman |first=Isabella |date=2022-08-11 |title=IT’SUGAR opens new two-story flagship in Times Square {{!}} amNewYork |url=https://www.amny.com/lifestyle/eat-and-drink/itsugar-opens-new-two-story-flagship-in-times-square/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.amny.com |language=en-US}} Later the first Canada location was opened, as a "candy department store" in the West Edmonton Mall.{{Cite web |last=Toneguzzi |first=Mario |date=2022-08-24 |title=Candy Department Store Concept IT’SUGAR Expands into Canada with Plans for Multiple Locations [Interview] |url=https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2022/08/candy-department-store-concept-itsugar-expands-into-canada-with-plans-for-multiple-locations-interview/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Retail Insider |language=en-US}}
In 2023, they opened locations in Bellis Fair, The Centre at Salisbury, and another in Miami in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Petree |first=Rob |date=2023-10-18 |title=IT'SUGAR candy store to open up shop at the Salisbury mall |url=https://www.wmdt.com/2023/10/itsugar-candy-store-to-open-up-shop-at-the-salisbury-mall/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=47abc |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Katie |date=2024-04-16 |title=IT’SUGAR Opens Newly Expanded Flagship Store in Miami |url=https://retailrestaurantfb.com/itsugar-opens-newly-expanded-flagship-store-in-miami/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Retail & Restaurant Facility Business |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Ashlye |first=Smith |date=November 7, 2023 |title=It'Sugar, a national candy store opens first Washington shop |url=https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/business/article281542218.html |access-date=May 18, 2024 |work=The Bellingham Herald}}
Partnerships
With the company's largest location in the American Dream, IT'SUGAR partnered with Mondelez International to open an in-store café on the third floor, named Oreo TWISTiD.
References
{{Reflist}}
- Wilson, Marianne. "Q&A with It'Sugar's Jeff Rubin: The King of Sweets". Chain Store Age. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- "IT'SUGAR CEO Jeff Rubin to transition from CEO to chairman". Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- BBX Capital acquires specialty candy retailer It's Sugar for $57m. Confectionery News. June 21, 2017. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- Kudisch, Brianna. "IT'SUGAR officially opens at American Dream, and it's massively sweet". NJ.com. December 14, 2019. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- Bloomberg News. "Candy Seller It'Sugar Files Bankruptcy After Pandemic Sales Drop". BNN Bloomberg. September 23, 2020. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- Barack, Meredith. "Sweet treats at the new IT'SUGAR store on the Mag Mile". CBS Chicago. April 7, 2022. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- "IT'SUGAR opens candy department store on Chicago's Magnificent Mile". Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- Roman, Isabella. "IT'SUGAR opens new two-story flagship in Times Square". amNewYork. August 11, 2022. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- Toneguzzi, Mario. "Candy Department Store Concept IT'SUGAR Expands into Canada with Plans for Multiple Locations [Interview]". Retail Insider. August 24, 2022. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- Petree, Rob. "IT'SUGAR candy store to open up shop at the Salisbury mall". 47abc. October 18, 2023. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- Smith, Ashlye. "It'Sugar, a national candy store opens first Washington shop". The Bellingham Herald. November 7, 2023. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- Lee, Katie. "IT'SUGAR Opens Newly Expanded Flagship Store in Miami". Retail & Restaurant Facility Business. April 16, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-19.